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Casserole Recipes: Comfort in a Dish

There’s something comforting about a casserole bubbling away in the oven—it feels like a hug in food form. Whether you’re cooking for family dinner, meal-prepping for the week, or heading to a potluck, casseroles are hearty, simple to make, and always a hit.

Here are 10 casserole recipes written in a storytelling style, so you’ll feel like we’re cooking them together in your kitchen.

1. Classic Chicken and Rice Casserole

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
  • 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
  • Salt and pepper

Steps
Grab a big bowl and stir together the soup, sour cream, and half the cheese until creamy. Fold in chicken, rice, and veggies, seasoning with salt and pepper. Pour into a greased casserole dish, sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top, and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. It comes out golden, bubbly, and filling enough to feed a hungry crowd.

2. Baked Ziti Casserole

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ziti pasta
  • 1 jar marinara sauce
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups mozzarella
  • ½ cup parmesan
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Steps
Boil pasta until just al dente. Toss it with marinara and Italian seasoning, then layer half in a dish. Spread ricotta, sprinkle mozzarella, and repeat with the remaining pasta. Top with more mozzarella and parmesan, then bake at 375°F for 25 minutes. When it comes out, it’s gooey, cheesy, and guaranteed to vanish quickly.

3. Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Ingredients

  • 1 package frozen hashbrowns, thawed
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • Salt and pepper

Steps
Mix hashbrowns, soup, sour cream, half the cheese, butter, and onion until combined. Spread into a dish, sprinkle with the remaining cheese, and bake at 350°F for 40 minutes until the edges are crispy. It’s comfort food at its finest, often called “funeral potatoes” because they show up at every gathering.

4. Mexican Taco Casserole

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 can black beans, drained
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1 jar salsa
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar
  • 1 bag tortilla chips

Steps
Brown the beef and stir in taco seasoning, beans, and corn. Spread crushed tortilla chips in a dish, spoon the beef mixture on top, and pour over salsa. Sprinkle cheese generously, bake at 375°F for 20 minutes, and serve with sour cream and guacamole. It’s taco night in bubbly casserole form.

5. Broccoli Cheddar Casserole

Ingredients

  • 4 cups broccoli florets, blanched
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar
  • 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter

Steps
Mix broccoli, soup, sour cream, and half the cheddar in a bowl. Pour into a dish, top with the rest of the cheddar, then sprinkle crushed crackers mixed with melted butter on top. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. It’s creamy, cheesy, and has the perfect crunch topping.

6. Breakfast Sausage Casserole

Ingredients

  • 1 pound breakfast sausage, cooked
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 6 slices bread, cubed
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
  • Salt and pepper

Steps
Layer bread cubes and sausage in a greased dish. In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper, then pour over the bread. Sprinkle with cheese and refrigerate overnight if you like. Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes until puffed and golden. It’s the ultimate brunch dish, great for feeding a crowd in the morning.

7. Tuna Noodle Casserole

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked egg noodles
  • 2 cans tuna, drained
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs

Steps
Stir noodles, tuna, soup, milk, peas, and half the cheese until creamy. Spread in a dish, sprinkle with remaining cheese, then top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. It’s a classic comfort dish that tastes just like childhood.

8. BBQ Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 1 cup cooked pasta
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1 cup black beans
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar

Steps
Mix chicken, pasta, BBQ sauce, corn, and beans in a dish. Sprinkle with cheese, bake at 375°F for 25 minutes, and let the BBQ aroma fill your kitchen. It’s tangy, cheesy, and surprisingly hearty.

9. Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

  • 4 cups green beans, blanched
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup French fried onions
  • Salt and pepper

Steps
Mix soup, milk, and beans, then pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle fried onions on top, bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, and bring it to the table hot. It’s a holiday staple but works at any potluck or dinner.

10. Apple Crisp Casserole

Ingredients

  • 6 apples, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup oats
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup butter, melted

Steps
Toss apples with lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon, then spread in a baking dish. Mix oats, flour, brown sugar, and melted butter, then sprinkle over apples. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes until bubbly and golden. It’s dessert disguised as a casserole, sweet and cozy with every spoonful.

Whether you bring one to a family dinner or bake it for Sunday meal prep, these recipes are simple to make and endlessly satisfying. Try one (or a few!) and you’ll see why casseroles have a permanent place in our kitchens.